The doctor called me “thin” this morning during our six month checkup! Well, there’s actually a dispute. When our doctor was doing the ultrasound Paul heard, “It’s easy to see because it’s thin,” referring to my stretching skin. But for my own mental and emotional health I maintain that it went like this, “It’s easy to see because you’re thin.” He did go on to say something about it being best to gain the weight at the end so with this version in mind bless Dr. Grimaldi, bless his children, grandchildren, acquaintances… Because seriously, and I think I speak for all pregnant ladies here, we’ll take what we can get.

Strangely enough, I had never heard this before our trip to the villa at Christmas time (perhaps because I’m a spring chicken compared to my husband?) Anyway, it could be my hippie upbringing but I’m smitten. Baby Girl Mathews will hear a lot of this. In the meantime…

Fantastical nature of Venice was amped up a notch with the start of Carnivale, which produced thousands of people in masks and costumes. A kind of Marie Antoinette meets Halloween.

*Corny American woman riding along in a gondola while animatedly nodding her head in an effort to “lead” a group of other corny tourists in a rousing chorus of “Country Roads”. Seriously, it’s 80 Euros to ride in the boat and this is how you want do it? I mean, I love my J. Denver but…

It really is a city built on water. Lovely. Romantic. Picturesque.

*By popular request, okay one person asked, a photo of Miss West Virginia Singalong is attached below.